Author pens children’s book about how kids deal with new siblings

Kelly Sullivan

Monday

Dec 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMDec 29, 2008 at 5:44 PM

When Michael Sussman was bored in grade school, he would daydream about time passing in reverse. This is the basis of the East Cambridge resident’s first children’s book, “Otto Grows Down,” which addresses the fantasy of time going backwards, and the jealousy that young children often feel toward a new sibling.

When Michael Sussman was bored in grade school, he would daydream about time passing in reverse.

This is the basis of the East Cambridge resident’s first children’s book, “Otto Grows Down,” which addresses the fantasy of time going backwards, and the jealousy that young children often feel toward a new sibling.

In the book, 6-year-old Otto wishes that his infant sister, Anna, had never been born. Soon, time starts flowing backwards. Anna is returned to the hospital, but Otto continues to get younger and younger, until, on his first birthday, he must make the right birthday wish, or disappear like Anna.

“Otto grows up by growing down,” said Sussman, who grew up in Lexington. “He can identify with being a baby like Anna, and develops more empathy for her by growing down to her age.”

Sussman, who’s trained as a clinical psychologist, said that he experienced jealousy when his younger brother was born, and hopes that “Otto Grows Down” will show children how to deal with these feelings.

“As time goes on, [Otto] feels bad for being responsible for Anna’s disappearance,” Sussman said. “This is parallel to children wishing that their sibling would disappear in fantasy, and then feeling bad, because [small children] have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality.”

Sussman went to Hampshire College and received a bachelor’s in music composition and performance. Then he received a doctorate in clinical psychology from Hahnemann University.

“Otto Grows Down” is Sussman’s first children’s book. He said that writing for children was very different from the academic writing he’s done in the past, including a book on psychotherapy.

“Writing fiction, you have to let go of the internal editor and criticizer and open up to your unconscious mind. It’s more exploratory and improvisational,” he said. “You never know what you’re going to come up with.”

Initially, Sussman had difficulty finding a publisher. One large publishing house told him Otto’s story was too scary for young children.

“There is a scary element, but it’s done with such humor that I think it comes across more as suspense[ful] than frightening,” Sussman said.

After submitting unsolicited manuscripts to publishers, Sussman was contacted by the head of the children’s department at Sterling Publishing in New York City. They loved the story right away, according to Sussman.

The publisher then put Sussman in contact with Scott Magoon, a Reading resident who has illustrated six children’s books.

Magoon, who had previously worked with Sterling Publishing, was drawn to Otto’s story after reviewing the book.

“[The story] is quirky, a little snarky, and ultimately hopeful, which is what I like in a manuscript,” Magoon said. “I loved the manuscript, and it’s been great working with Michael. He has a talent for it.”

Sussman recently received an advanced copy of the book, which will be available Feb. 3. He said that the whole process of publication took about three years.

Sussman hopes that children will learn from Otto’s adventure, and that the story will challenge then to think about time flowing backwards, a good cognitive exercise, he said.

“Primarily, I hope that they’re entertained and amused,” he said. “Essentially, it’s a fun, whimsical tale. Without being heavy-handed, I tried to give the message that being a good sibling is its own reward.”

Cambridge Chronicle

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